Improvement in portable ladders



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. SECREST. Portable-Ladder.

W ented Oct. 7,1879.

M VQL/ ATTORNEY 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2,

S. SEOREST. Portable-Ladder.

No. 220,310. Patented Oct. 7,1879.

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ATTORNEY N-F'ETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D O.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

SAMUEL SEOREST, OF BYESVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,310, dated October 7, 1879; application filed August 13, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUE SEcREsT, of Byesville, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in portable ladders, the object being to provide a ladder which shall be simple in its construction, of small initial cost, and adapted to be readily transported from place to place, and

the ladder adjusted to the desiredinclination, and firmly secured in position when desired for use; and to this end my invention consists in the several details of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my improved portable ladder when adjusted to nearly a vertical position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the ladder adjusted to a greater angle of inclination than in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts of the ladder when folded for transportation.

A represents the axle, upon opposite ends of which are journaled the wheels B B. To the axle A are secured the ends of the axle-supports 0 O, the ends being mortised and attached by screws or bolts, as may be desired. The outer ends of the ladder-supports constitute handles a a, thereby forming of the axle, wheels, and supports 0 O a complete truck, which may be readily moved about as an ordinary truck. D represents the ladder, the lower end of which is pivoted by bolts b to the laddersupports at a point in rear of the axle, so that the Weight of the ladder shall be wholly supported between the axle and outer ends of the ladder-supports (J O, and pivoted practically in the same horizontal plane with the top of the axle.

To the sides of the ladder D are pivoted the upper ends of the adjustable braces E E, the lower ends thereof being attached to opposite ends of a rod, F, secured in the ladder-sup ports 0 O.

The ladder-supports are provided with any desired number of holes, a, to allow the lower ends of the braces E E to be secured at any desired distance from the axle, according to the desired angle to be given to the ladder when in use.

In painting a building it is desired to have the ladder stand in nearly a vertical position, and in such case the lower ends of the braces E E are secured at the nearest point of ad justment to the axle. In picking fruit, and for many other purposes, it is desired that the ladder shall have greater inclination, and in such cases the lower ends of the braces are moved farther away from the axle.

When it is desired to store or ship the lad der the rod F is removed, and the ladder, braces, and ladder-supports are all folded to- 'gether, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and in such shape will occupy but little space.

As will be readily observed, my improved ladder is the embodiment of simplicity, and can be quickly and cheaply manufactured without the employment of expensive machinery. It is of great utility, owing to the fact that it may be transported from one point to another by a single person, and can be supported at any desired angle of inclination.

The ladder may be made of any desired height and material.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a portable ladder, the combination, with an axle supported by suitable carrying-wheels, of ladder-supports attached at one end to the axle, and provided with handles at the other ends, and furnished with a series of holes, a ladder pivoted to the ladder-supports in close proximity to the axle, and braces pivoted at their upper ends to the ladder, and adj ustably secured at their lower ends to the laddersupports bya detachable rod inserted in the holes in the ladder-supports, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL SEOREST.

Witnesses O. H. IRVINE, JAS. A. RAINEY. 

